120 AsHBY, Birds in the Baltimore Woods, U.S.A. [J^ 



Emu 

 Oct. 



The stream we had been following had increased in volume 

 considerably, and now, as we entered an extensive piece of Mar\'- 

 land forest, composed of at least half a dozen species of oak — 

 the strOngly-toothed leaves of the Black Oak {Quercus veliitina), 

 the large crenulate leaves of the Chestnut Oak {Quercus acuminata), 

 the very large leaved White Oak {Quercus alba), the glassy, maple- 

 like, deeply-cut leaves of the Scarlet Oak and the Pin Oak {Quercus 

 coccinea and Q. palustris respectively). Some reached loo feet 

 in height, or nearly so ; others, where they had room, were broad- 

 spreading trees. Interspersed M'ith these were several species of 

 maples — one species, the Silver Maple, forming stouter trunks 

 than those of the oaks. -Chestnuts, pecan nuts, and its relative 

 liickory, beech, and many others also occurred. The trunks of 

 many were covered with Virginian creepers of several different 

 species, the whole forming a mass of leafage, greatly varied in 

 detail and in shades of green. Lit up as it was by a hot, bright 

 sun, it formed one of the most beautiful pieces of forest scenery 

 it lias iver been my lot to witness. The only Australian bush 

 tliat can in tlie least be compared to it are the rich " brushes " 

 of Queensland. The humid atmosphere and hot sunshine of the 

 Maryland summer is very similar to the weather I experienced 

 in the Blackall Range, in southern Queensland. It was hard to 

 picture the American winter. A few months ago the scene I 

 have attempted to suggest was a leafless forest, the ground deep 

 in snow, and the temperature going down for some days well 

 Ix'low zero. This extreme change in the American seasons is 

 liarci for an Australian to realize, but accounts for the great spring 

 and autumn migrations. I understand the fauna of Baltimore 

 is more than doubled during the migratory seasons. Some of 

 these wanderers only reach their northern nesting-limit a few 

 weeks before they have to turn south again, allowing barely 

 sufficient time for the young to gain enough strength to under- 

 take the long southern journey. While there is nothing new in 

 these remarks, the points touched upon are greatly emphasized 

 by one's presence in the actual locality of these migrations. 



Our course still followed the creek ; on tlie other side we lieard 

 a sharp call-note, and then, with the aid of the glass, saw a small 

 bird, longer in tail and body than one of our Australian Sericornis, 

 but both in markings and movements showing some resemblance. 

 The white line over the eye and the strongly speckled breast and 

 under side could be easily seen. The song was a series of about 

 half a dozen quickly uttered, not unmusical, notes. The bird was 

 one of tlie Warblers, called the Water-Thrush {Seiurus novcB- 

 horacensis). It feeds along the edges of wooded creeks. While 

 watching the little Water-Thrush a loud rattling cry was heard 

 a little down stream, and a fine specimen of the large Belted King- 

 fisher (( fi-ylc iihyini). ij inches long, settled in a tree overhanging 

 the stream, and we were able to get an excellent view of its doubli-- 

 banded breast and blue back. Our next find was an es})ecially 

 lu(k\' one, for from a muddy depression filled with soft nuid and 



